As Nigeria looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, one of the country’s prominent opposition parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has warned that unresolved issues around party leadership recognition could sow seeds of political turmoil.
In a press release from Lagos, Dr Ogini Olaposi, the NNPP’s National Secretary, criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what the party sees as a reluctance to enforce judicial rulings on internal party leadership.
“It is imperative that those vying for public office know the legitimate leaders of their parties,” Olaposi said. “Allowing uncertainty to fester only fuels internal conflict and undermines Nigeria’s democratic credibility.”
The NNPP cited multiple court decisions that validated the leadership of Dr Agbo Major and the party’s Board of Trustees led by Dr Boniface Aniebonam. Most notably, a 2024 ruling by the Abia State High Court and a reinforcing judgment from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja both affirmed the legitimacy of the current party executives.
Despite this, INEC has yet to update its public records to reflect the changes, a move the NNPP suggests may not be mere bureaucratic delay but a sign of deeper institutional dysfunction.
“Silence in the face of clear judicial directives is not only negligent—it borders on sabotage,” the statement noted.
The party also accused unnamed political actors of exploiting the ambiguity to destabilise internal structures, warning that continued inaction may enable “opportunistic figures” to manipulate party systems to their advantage.
Calling for transparency and rule of law, the NNPP urged INEC to act promptly to restore trust in the electoral process. The party stressed that without clarity and adherence to court judgments, Nigeria risks heading into another election cycle marred by disputes and distractions.
“Nigeria is not a banana republic. The rule of law must be upheld if the government’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is to have any meaningful impact,” the statement concluded.
